Plantain Pond Dam dam
Plantain Pond Dam
Plantain Pond Dam, located in Mount Washington, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, is a rockfill dam completed in 1947 with a primary purpose of recreation. It stands at a height of 15 feet and has a hydraulic height of 12.5 feet, offering a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet. The dam spans 240 feet in length and impounds the Bear Rock Stream, creating a surface area of 62 acres for recreational activities.
Managed by a private owner, Plantain Pond Dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts. The dam has a significant hazard potential and is assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in May 2017. With a moderate risk rating, the dam is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety for surrounding communities. Despite being uncontrolled, the spillway type of the dam helps manage water levels during periods of excess discharge, contributing to the overall management of water resources in the area.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Plantain Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 423 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Falls Village | 536 cfs | → |
| Salmon Creek At Lime Rock | 30 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Great Barrington | 21 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Near Great Barrington | 234 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Plantain Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Twin Lakes
- Rudd Drive Town Of North East
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
- Winchester Lake
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
Campgrounds
- Laurel Ridge Campsite
- Sage's Ravine Campground
- Race Brook Campsites
- Ball Brook Group Camping Area
- Copake Falls - Taconic State Park
- Rudd Pond - Taconic State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Plantain Pond Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Plantain Pond Dam
Where does the data for Plantain Pond Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Plantain Pond Dam.